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Senior Human Settlements Officer, P/5 (Nairobi), Deadline: 20 Jun 2010
		Senior Human Settlements Officer, P-5 DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:   20 Jun 2010 ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT:   United Nations Human Settlement Programme DUTY STATION:   Nairobi VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:   10-PGM-UN-HABITAT-424435-R-NAIROBI Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Remuneration Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. More Info United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity Responsibilities The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the UN agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. There are two posts, located in the Regional Office for Africa and Arab States within the Regional and Technical Cooperation Division of UN-HABITAT. Under the general supervision of the Regional Director, the incumbent's responsibilities will be: 1. Programme Implementation: a) Promoting broad-based policy dialogue with national constituencies and development partners in the respective countries; b) Providing inputs to human settlements analyses and needs assessment and other activities aimed at human settlements policy, strategy and programme development at the national/international levels; c) Coordinating relevant activities within the work programme through interaction within national level public institutions, local governments, Non-Governmental Organizations, civic society and private sector; 2. Project/Programme Development: a) Identifying key area for interventions in human settlements within the framework of the Habitat Agenda, Habitat Country Programme Documents and sector reviews; b) Participating in the development and review project documentation; c) Negotiating with multi-lateral/bilateral donors for resource mobilisation and promoting/coordinating joint activities. 3. Project Management: a) Providing effective management support, policy guidance and technical capacity to the work of UN-HABITAT Programme Managers; b) Conducting the process of identification and selection of staff and consultants; c) Monitoring financial and technical performance of the activities and projects to ensure effective implementation of programmes/projects; 4. Advisory Functions: a) Contributing to the overall policy and strategy development within UN-HABITAT; b) Undertaking technical support advisory missions to carry out high level consultations and to develop policy initiatives on human settlements issues; c) Assisting governments in organizing and convening meetings of policy makers and technical experts to formulate, review, adopt and implement their National Plans of Action. 5. Other managerial duties as required. Competencies Professionalism: Demonstrated ability to prepare project documents and funding proposals ensuring that the quality of the project design and their implementation meets all partners’ expectations. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction by promoting sustainable human settlement development and related programmes, policies and strategies in the countries of assignment in the framework of the Work Programme of Habitat. Demonstrated ability to provide expert advisory services and developing and supervising the execution of priority projects and programmes in a cost effective and efficient manner. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks at the country level. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. Leadership: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work; commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staff. QUALIFICATIONS Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning, sociology, economics or physical sciences relevant to development and management of human settlements. A first university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Work Experience A minimum of ten years of responsible experience in human settlements projects and programmes at national level, of which at least five of similar experience at the international level. Experience in human settlements development fields, projects/programme design and implementation with the UN or other international agencies is highly desirable. Practical and relevant experience in the Region is required. Working experience in Technical Co-operation is highly desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English and French is required. Knowledge of another UN official language (Arabic) is highly desirable. Knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage. Other Skills Good computer skills required. Proven ability in fund raising for project proposals is a valuable skill. The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8).   English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.  The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. How to apply All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. Because applications submitted by United Nations (UN) staff members are considered first, provided the eligibility requirements set out in ST/AI/2006/3 are met and the application is submitted in a timely fashion, staff members should apply within 15-day or 30-day mark. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please go to “My UN” page and check the status of your application by clicking on “View Application History”, and resubmit the application, if necessary. To start the application process, applicants are required to register by opening a "My UN" account. Go to Login, and Register as a User. Fill in the form and choose a User Name and Password. After opening the account, applicants may apply for vacancies using the Personal History Profile (PHP) provided. Once the PHP has been completed for a particular vacancy, it can be saved and used for future applications. The PHP may be up-dated, when necessary, for future applications. In completing the PHP, please note that all fields marked with an asterisk must be completed. UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (PAS) reports at the time of application to the appropriate Human Resources Office (HRO)/Personnel Office (PO) to the email address below, clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number. In case you have no access to the digitizing equipment, please submit hard copies of the two latest PAS reports to the relevant HRO/PO via fax. E-mail: [email protected], Fax: 254-20-762-4212 Please see the Frequently Asked Questions, if you encounter problems when applying. Breach of Trust